Boat winch



Dec. 10, 1940. c. w. KAHL'ERTH BOAT WINCH Filed July 23, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l CARL w. mm E/TH INVENTOR BY f t v, I

ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1940- c. w. KAHLERTH BOAT WINCH Filed July 23. 1936 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 CARL m KAHLERTH INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1940. 'c. w. KAHLERTH BOAT WINCH Fi1ed Ju1y 23, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE BOAT WINCH Application July 23, 1936, Serial No. 92,031

19 Claims.

This invention relates to hoisting apparatus generally but more particularly to davit winches for life boats.

Special objects of the invention are to enable safer and more rapid handling of life boats and to provide a construction for the purpose, which will be entirely reliable, practical and efficient, take up but relatively small space on board ship and be so simple of control that it may be safely operated under hurried, emergency conditions and the like.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained in the present invention by the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and broadly covered in the claims annexed.

In the drawings there are shown two different embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that other and further modifications and changes may be made, all within the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a broken sectional view illustrating a combination power and hand operable boat winch, 25 this view being taken on substantially the plane of line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a broken and part sectional end elevation of the right hand end of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken plan vie-w on substantially the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2, illustrating on a larger scale details of the clutch control lever and the interlock between this and the brake control lever.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view as on line 35 44 of Fig. 1, showing on a larger scale details of the one Way connection between the drum driving gear and the boat lowering brake mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a double form of the 40 machine in which a single motor may be used for operating two winches.

Fig. 6 is a broken plan illustrating details of the interlock in this form of the invention.

Fig. '7 is a broken detail of the double clutch control used with this form of machine.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same.

In Fig. l, the drum is indicated at 8, journalled at 9, in a suitable frame or base structure Ill, and partitioned at H, to take the two lines leading over the davit or other structure to opposite ends of the life boat or other object.

This drmn is shown as carrying or having attached at one end, the gear l2, engaged by pinion IS, on shaft [4, journalled in the same base structure above the drum. This shaft is shown as carrying at its opposite end a gear l5, engaged by pinion l6, on shaft Il', journalled in the base above shaft l4.

The top shaft H, is shown as having squared ends I 8, to take the hand cranks l9, and at the end opposite the pinion Hi, this shaft is shown as carrying a gear 2!), engaged by pinion 2|, of the motor 22.

The construction thus far described provides a triple reduction drive from the motor to the drum, through gears El, 23, to shaft Il', from this shaft through gears Iii, l5, to shaft l4 and from this shaft through gears l3, l2, to the drum. This also provides a double reduction gearing for hand crank operation from shaft ll, through the gears l8, l5, to intermediate shaft [4, and from the latter through gears I3, I 2, to the drum.

To permit lowering movements of the drum, independently of the motor drive and the hand crank operation, the pinion It in the present illustration is loosely mounted on the crank shaft ll, but adapted to be clutched to this shaft by a jaw clutch consisting of coacting clutch teeth 23, 24, on the opposing faces of gear I6, and a sleeve 25, slidingly keyed on the shaft at 26. This clutch sleeve is shown as flanged at 21, to receive the roller 28, on a shifting lever 29, on the lower end of a vertical stud shaft 34), journalled in the upper portion of the base structure and having fixed thereon a clutch control lever 31. Detent mechanism is indicated at 32, Figs. 2 and 3, for retaining this lever and the parts controlled thereby in the clutch off and on positions.

For controlling lowering movements, brake mechanism is provided consisting in the present disclosure of a brake drum 33, on the intermediate shaft l4, surrounded by a brake band 34. This brake couple is shown as of the self-energizing type, with one end of the brake band anchored to the frame or base by a pivot link 35, and the other end connected to a lever at 36, on the inner end of a rock shaft 31, pivoted in the framing and carrying at its outer end a weighted lever 38.

One way connection between the intermediate shaft [4 and brake drum 33, is provided in the present disclosure by a ratchet wheel 39, keyed on the end of this shaft and engageable by gravity pawls 43, pivoted at 4|, on the inside of the brake drum. The latter is mounted for rotation relative to shaft 14, as by having the bearing portions 42, Fig. 1, journalled on the hub portion 43, of the ratchet member 39.

The ratchet and co-acting pawls are faced so that in the boat lowering movement, the drum will drive shaft I4, and the latter through ratchet 39 and a pawl or pawls Ml, will drive the surrounding brake drum, the brake drum then turning in a left-handed direction, Fig. 2.

Under reverse conditions, that is, with motor or hand crank drive for hoisting purposes, the intermediate shaft M, will be turned right-handedly in Fig. 2, causing the ratchet 39, to click past the pawls 40, while the latter, forming part of the brake drum are held in fixed position by the brake band.

For regulating the brake band to control the lowering operation, a hand lever 44, is shown pivotally mounted on the brake band leverage rock shaft 31, and. engageable in its lifting movement with an overstanding lug 45, on the Weighted brake setting lever 38. Ordinarily; the hand lever M, may rest on the Weight at the free end of lever 38, as indicated in Fig. 2, thus'adding its weight to the holding of the brake band. As the free end of this lever is raised, it picks up the weighted lever, through engagement with lug 45, to lift the latter and thereby release the brake band to the extent required for the desired lowering speed.

To prevent brake releasing operation when the clutch is closed for power or hand operation of the winch, an interlock is provided between the clutch and brake mechanisms, the same being shown as a lift link 45, pivotally connected at its lower end with brake control lever 44, and operating through guide 41, at its upper end into position for cooperation with a stop lever t8, projecting from the pivot center of the clutch control lever 3|, Fig. 3.

The lost motion connection provided at 45, between the brake let-off lever 44 and the weighted brake setting lever 38, provides sufficient motion for the rod 46, to reach the stop lever 48, before the brake is actually released. Thus, if the clutch has been left in the engaged position and the stop lever 48, is in position overstanding the lift rod 4'6, the movement of the brake control Ml, will be arrested before the brake has begun to be released. On the other hand, if the clutch lever 3|, has been thrown to uncouple the clutch, the stop lever or lug 48, will stand clear of the rod or plunger 45, as in Fig. 3, to permit full use of the lever 44, to release the brake as required for the desiredlowering operations of the Winch. The lost motion connection described also permits a certain amount of brakewear to occur without disturbing the desired relation of parts and avoids the need for specially fine machining or adjustment of parts. With the clutch thrown out and the drive gearing interrupted at pinion l5, the shaft I7, and the drive gearing 2|, 25, from the motor can remain .at rest while lowering operations are going on, avoiding any question of injury from hand cranks left on the shaft IT, or over-running of the motor 22.

In the twin machine shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, a single motor is utilized for driving either of two drums in a hoisting direction and interlock is provided to prevent release of the brake controlling either drum if the clutch for either drum driving gearing is in an operative condition. Generally speaking, the parts of this double machine are duplicates .of those used on the single machine but individual clutches are provided for the respective drums and a double interlock between these clutches and the individual brake drum control levers.

The two drums are indicated at 311, .81), one slightly above the other, so that the lines to one will clear the other drum. The rods or plungers 46a, iilb, which are lifted by the brake control levers Ma, Mb, cooperate with or clear the stop levers or arms 48a, 48b, of the two-way clutch control lever 3 la, according to the position of the latter. Lever 3M. as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, controls the clutch sleeve 25a, to couple and uncouple the pinion Hill, in respect to the crank shaft Ila. This pinion, in this particular instance, meshes the two gears I5a, I51), at opposite sides of the same, on intermediate shafts Ma, l lb, and gears I511, |5b, in this instance, are coupled to or uncoupled from these shafts, by the clutches 49, 56, reversely operated from a hand lever 5|. This individual clutch control lever 5| is shown fixed on one end of a shaft 52, which through gearing 53, rocks shaft 54, in the opposite direction. The lever shaft 52, carries the fork 55, for'ope'rating clutch 49, and the reversely turning shaft 54, carries the fork 56, for operating the other clutch 5i). Lever 5| has a neutral intermediate position with both individual clutches disengaged and positions at opposite sides of this neutral position for setting one clutch or the other.

By operating the individualizing clutch lever 5!, one drum or the other may be selected for operation by the motor. The drive to the selected drum however, will not become effective until the main clutch on the crank shaft Ila, is closed by operation of lever 3|a. When this clutch is engaged to enable drive of the selected drum in a hoisting direction, neither one of the brake control levers can be used to let off the brakes because of the interlocking action at 46a, 45b and Mia, 435. For brake releasing purposes therefor, the main clutch must be opened to uncouple the motor and hand crank shaft lla, from the both drums.

The interlock is of simple substantial design, which can not get out of order. The brake drum is on a shaft separate from the rope spooling drum and as shown in Fig. 1, may be located up above and'clear of the drum as a separate unit where it may be examined, repaired or be entirely replaced without disturbing the drum. In the several views, the entire brake mechanism is shown enclosed in a casing 51, separate and apart from the drum and which has a removable cover 58, enabling ready inspection and any necessary adjustment or replacement of the brake band and other parts. This cover is illustrated as having a central cap portion 59, Figs. 1 and 2, which can be taken off to expose the squared end 60, of the brake shaft, ready to receive the hand crank. This latter arrangement then provides .a so-called high speed hand operation of the drum, as for recovering the lines after a boat has been lowered.

Because of the geared relation between the drum and brake shaft, the brake mechanism may be somewhat lighter and more compact than if the braking were applied directlyto the drum. This construction also enables the entire brake mechanism to be fully enclosed and to be located in a more favorable position up above the drum. While the brake setting lever 38 is shown as weighted, this might be loaded in the brake setting direction by other means, such as a spring or springs. The brake band shown forms an efilcient and practical form of brake shoe, but this, like other parts of the apparatus, is subject to modification. The terms employed in describing the invention are therefore to be considered in a descriptive rather thanin a limiting sense,

except possibly for such limitations as may be required by state of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boat winch of the character disclosed, the combination of a drum, a releasable brake for controlling the boat lowering operation of the same, means for driving the drum in the hoisting direction and including clutch means by which the driving force may be coupled to or uncoupled from the drum and interlocking means for preventing release of the brake while said clutch means is engaged and operable to permit release of the brake only when said clutch means is disengaged and the driving means is uncoupled from the drum, said interlocking means including a member shiftable in one direction in the brake releasing operation and a stop for said member shiftable in the clutch coupling operation into position to limit and stop movement of said member in the brake releasing direction.

2. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a shaft provided with means enabling hand crank operation of" the same, a motor for driving said crank shaft, a brake shaft, gearing from said crank shaft to said brake shaft and including clutch means for interrupting the drive between said two shafts, a hoisting drum, gearing from said brake shaft to said hoisting drum, a brake member, a one way drive connection from said brake shaft to said brake member and hand controlled means for applying braking force to said brake member.

3. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a shaft provided with means enabling hand crank operation of the same, a motor for driving said crank shaft, a brake shaft, gearing from said crank shaft to said brake shaft and including clutch means for interrupting the drive between said two shafts, a hoisting drum, gearing from said brake shaft to said hoisting drum, a brake member, a one way drive connection from said brake shaft to said brake member, hand controlled means for applying braking force to said brake member and an interlock for rendering said hand control braking means inoperative while the clutch in the gearing between the crank shaft and brake shaft is closed.

4. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a motor, a hand crank operable shaft, reduction gearing from said motor to said hand crank operable shaft, a brake shaft, reduction gearing from said crank shaft to said brake shaft, a hoisting drum, reduction gearing from said brake shaft to said hoisting drum, clutch means for interrupting said drive from the motor to the drum, a brake element, one way drive mechanism from said brake shaft to said brake element and hand control means for applying braking force to said brake element.

5. In a winch of the character disclosed, a hoisting drum, a brake shaft, gearing between said hoisting drum and brake shaft, a ratchet member fixed on said brake shaft, a brake drum rotatably mounted on said brake shaft, pawls carried by said brake drum for cooperation with said ratchet, a brake shoe cooperable with said brake drum, hand control means for regulating said brake shoe and including a member loaded to hold the brake shoe engaged with the brake drum and a hand actuated member having a lost motion connection with said loadedmember and releasable locking means for limiting movement of said hand actuated member in a brake releasing direction to the extent of the lost motion provided by said lost motion connection.

' 6. In a winch of the character disclosed, a hoisting drum and a brake couple therefor, including a brake drum, a brake shoe cooperable therewith, a loaded member for holding the brake shoe engaged with the brake drum, a hand lever for shifting said loaded member to release the brake shoe, a lost motion connection between said hand lever and loaded member and releasable locking means for limiting movement of the hand lever in the brake releasing direction to the extent of lost motion provided by said lost motion connection.

7. In a winch of the character disclosed, a hoisting drum and a brake couple therefor, including a brake drum, a brake shoe cooperable therewith, a loaded member for holding the brake shoe engaged with the brake drum, a hand lever for shifting said loaded member to release the brake shoe, a lost motion connection between said hand lever and loaded member and releasable locking means for limiting movement of the hand lever in the brake releasing direction to the extent of lost motion provided by said lost motion connection, said loaded member being in the form of a weighted lever in substantial parallelism with the hand lever and said lost motion connection including a lug on one lever positioned for engagement with the other lever.

8. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising a hoisting drum, a brake couple therefor, including a brake drum and a surroimding brake band, a brake setting lever and a brake releasing lever, both pivotally mounted on a common center, a lost motion connection between said two levers and a releasable stop for limiting movement of said brake releasing lever in the brake releasing direction to the extent of lost motion provided by said 10st motion connection.

9. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising a hoisting drum, a brake couple for controlling the same including a brake releasing lever, drive gearing for operating said drum, including a clutch for interrupting the drive to the hoisting drum and interlocking lost motion means for permitting limited movement of said brake releasing lever and preventing releasing operation of the brake While the drive clutch is engaged, said interlocking lost motion. means including a member shifted by said brake releasing lever, a stop for said member connected with said clutch and a brake setting lever having lost motion connection with the brake releasing lever of an extent greater than that required for the brake lever to shift said member into engagement with said stop.

10. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising a hoisting drum, drive means therefor, including a clutch and a lever for effecting engagement and disengagement of the same, braking means for the drum including a brake releasing member and a brake setting member having a lost motion connection with said brake releasing member and a stop for preventing brake releasing movement of said brake releasing member and controlled by the position of said clutch lever, said stop including an element shiftable by one of said lost motion connected members and an element shiftable by said clutch lever into the path of movement of said first element.

11. A Winch of the character disclosed, comprising a hoisting drum, drive means therefor including a clutch and a lever for effecting engagement and disengagement of the same, braking means for the drum including a brake releasing member and a stop for preventing brake releasing movement of said brake releasing member and controlled by the position of said clutch lever, said stop including a rod shiftable by said brake releasing member, the clutch lever having a lug shiftable by said lever into the path of movement of said rod.

12. A winch of the character disclosed, comprising a hoisting drum, drive means therefor including a clutch and a lever for effecting engagement and disengagement of the same, braking means for the drum including a brake releasing member and a stop for preventing brake releasing movement of said brake releasing member and controlled by the position of said clutch lever, said stop including a rod shiftable by said brake releasing member, the clutch lever having a lug shiftable by said lever into the path of movement of said rod, a brake setting member and a lost motion connection between said brake setting lever and said brake releasing member.

13. A winch comprising a hoisting drum, a motor, gearing from said motor to said drum for driving the latter in a hoisting direction including a drive shaft, reduction gearing from the motor to said drive shaft, a brake shaft, reduction gearing from said drive shaft to said brake shaft and reduction gearing from said brake shaft to said drum, means for braking the movement of the drum in a lowering direction, means for uncoupling the line of gearing from the motor to the drum and means for preventing use of said brake means for lowering purposes so long as said motor is coupled to drive the drum.

14. A double drum winch, comprising separate hoisting drums, a single power means for actuating the same, clutch means for selectively coupling said power means with either of said drums, individual one way brakes for the drums and means including part of said clutch means for preventing release of either brake, so long as either drum is coupled to be operated by said drive means.

15. A double winch of the character disclosed including drive means, hoisting drums, gearing from said drive means to said hoisting drums, including individualiz-ing clutch means reversely shiftable from an intermediate neutral position to clutch one or the other of the drums in driven relation and a common drive clutch operative when closed for driving the preselected drum, separate releasable brakes for the drums and interlocking means common to both drums for preventing release of the brake drums when said common clutch is engaged in the drum driving position.

16. In a hoisting mechanism of the character described, a frame, a cable winding drum journaled on said frame, a motor on said frame, driving means between said motor and said drum for rotating the latter in cable winding direction comprising speed reduction gearing, a manually operable clutch in said drive between said motor and said drum for interrupting the drive, a manually releasable, automatic drum brake having a braking element connected to an element of said driving means and rotating at a different rate from said drum during drum drive and automatically braking drum rotation in cable unwinding direction, and a one-way clutch in the drive between said braking element and said drum for rendering said brake inactive during rotation of the drum in cable Winding direction by said motor through said gearing, and an interlock between said manually operable clutch and said brake for precluding manual release of said brake when said manually operable clutch is connected.

, 1'7. In a hoisting mechanism of the character described, a frame, a cable winding drum journaled thereon, a motor on said frame, reduction gearing connecting said motor in driving relation with said drum for rotating the latter in cable winding direction and comprising cooperating speed reducing elements, a clutch for disconnecting certain elements of said reduction gearing from the remaining elements thereof for disconnecting said motor from driving relation with said. drum, a brake connected to said drum through said remaining elements of said reduction gearing for controlling drum rotation in unwinding direction, means for automatically rendering said brake efiective only when the drum is rotating in cable unwinding direction, and an interlockbetween said clutch and brake operative to preclude release of the brake when said clutch is connected.

18. In a hoisting mechanism of the character described, a frame, a cable winding drum journaled thereon, a motor on said frame, reduction gearing connecting said motor in driving relation with said drum for rotating the latter in cable winding direction and comprising cooperating speed reducing elements, a clutch for disconnecting certain elements of said reduction gearing from the remaining elements thereof for disconnecting the motor from driving relation with said drum, a brake connected to said drum through said remaining elements of said reduction gearing for controlling drum rotation in cable unwinding direction, means for automatically rendering said brake effective only when said drum is rotating in cable unwinding direction, a controlling element for said clutch, and a controlling element for said brake, said clutch controlling element when said clutch is connected precluding movement of said brake controlling element into brake releasing position.

19. A winch comprising a hoisting drum, a brake shaft separate from said hoisting drum, speed reduction drive gearing between said brake shaft and drum, a hand crank shaft and disconnectible speed reduction gearing connections from said hand crank shaft to said brake shaft for effecting double gear reduction low speed hand operation of the drum from said hand crank shaft in a hoisting direction, said brake shaft having means enabling hand crank turning of the same for single gear reduction high speed operation of the drum in a hoisting direction through said gearing between said brake shaft and drum, brake means operable on said brake shaft for controlling operation of the drum in the lowering direction, means for preventing hand crank operation of the drum from said hand crank shaft, including partof said connections between said hand crank shaft and brake shaft and means for preventing use of the brake for lowering purposes so long as said hand crank hoisting shaft is operative, including a member shiftable in one direction on brake releasing operation and a stop positioned in the path of movement of said member when said hand crank hoisting means is operative, said stop being movable in respect to said member and positioned in accordance with the condition of said connections between said hand crank shaft and brake shaft.

. CARL w. KAHLERTI-I. 

